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KOENIGSEGG AGERA RS BEATS OFFICIAL WORLD SPEED RECORD HELD BY BUGATTI CHIRON

Many of us are fascinated by how fast man-made machines can go, when they are pushed to the absolute limit of performance. While the Chiron’s record was short-lived it is still worth noting that the Chiron is as easy to drive as a VW Golf and mass-produced. The Chiron is also looking to break the production car land speed record in 2018. Let’s explore the wonderful Chiron and Agera RS hypercars below.

BUGATTI CHIRON’S OFFICIAL WORLD SPEED RECORD

A Lifestyle article of September 2017 mentions that Bugatti had revealed that their Bugatti Chiron had achieved an official world record. This is for the fastest time for a car to accelerate to 400 km/hour and then brake to a complete stop. The whole feat took an amazing 41.96 seconds, of which 32.6 seconds were spent on reaching the speed of 400 km/hour, while 9.4 seconds were needed to brake to a complete standstill. The hypercar was driven by Juan Pablo Montoya, who won the Indianapolis 500 twice. The distance covered by the Chiron was 3.112 km at the Ehra-Lessien high-speed oval. When asked how it went, Montoya praised the car for its astonishing stability, while the acceleration as well as its braking power defied all description. The Chiron can accelerate 0-100 km/h in a claimed 2.4 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 6.5 seconds and 0-300 km/h in 13.6 seconds.

To show off its brute and yet focused power, the media will be given a chance this year to test the Chiron valued at USD 3 million (ZAR 41.05 million). Manufacture of this powerful machine has been restricted to 500 cars, of which 300 or more have already been bought by the super-wealthy.

BUGATTI’S EARLY BEGINNINGS

Born in Italy, Ettore Bugatti established in Germany in 1909, a French manufacturing company of high-performance cars called Automobiles Ettore Bugatti. The elegant designs of the Bugatti hypercars can be attributed to the artistic talents of Bugatti himself, who came from an artistic family.

Bugatti died in 1947. This meant that there was no one to take over the factory, because his son, Jean Bugatti had died 8 years earlier in 1939. Only a total of 8000 cars was produced. The company died a slow death financially, with the last model being released before the 1960s. The company was revived in the 1990s by another Italian, who specialized in producing exclusive cars. The Volkswagen group is the owner of the Bugatti today.

WHAT MAKES THE MEGA-POWERED CHIRON SPECIAL?

Besides its capability of achieving this staggering record, the W16, 16-cylinder hypercar, aided by four turbochargers with a power output of a mind-boggling 1119 kW, can reach a maximum governed speed of 420 km/h. When ungoverned, the Chiron can reach a staggering 463 km/h.

The Bugatti Chiron, a successor to the Bugatti Veyron, is a hypercar, with the engine situated in the middle. This two-seater is developed and produced in Molsheim, in France. The Chiron made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016. The design of the car was based on the concept car called the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo. You may be wondering about the name Chiron? The hypercar was named after the well-known Monaco driver called Louis Chiron.

THE ENGINE

Though modernised, the Chiron engine was similar to the Veyron’s 8-litre, W16, quad-turbocharged engine. The W16 engine is only manufactured by the Volkswagen Group, and consists of a 16-cylinder engine, arranged in two banks of eight, connected to a single crankshaft. The previous model, the Veyron SS, has 220 kW less power output than the Chiron. Similar to the Veyron, the Chiron has a carbon fibre body, independent suspension, and a Haldex AWD system. Power is distributed to all four wheels by a 7-speed dual clutch automatic.

FOUR TURBOCHARGERS AND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM

The four turbochargers operate in tandem, to provide maximum torque from 2000 – 6000 rpm. Up to 3800 rpm, two turbochargers are used for increased power, and after that, all four turbochargers are activated. The exhaust system is made of titanium, and is used to reduce back pressure. It contains two massive catalytic converters. There are altogether six exit pipes, with four coming out of the back of the car, and two blowing downwards, creating what is called a blown diffuser, which, in turn is a downward force-boosting technology.

THE BODY

A new carbon fibre monocoque and rear subframe augment rigidity of the Chiron. The electric steering system and suspension are fastened directly to the monocoque.

WHAT IS THE KOENIGSEGG AGERA RS?

A Swedish company, founded by Christian Koenigsegg, has been manufacturing the hypercar Koenigsegg Agera since 2011. The Agera succeeded the previous model, the Koenigsegg CCX/CCXR. The word Agera is derived from the Swedish verb agera, which means “to act.” Top Gear Magazine named this car the Hypercar of the Year 2010 in 2010. The Agera RS is limited to only 25 units.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION

The older Agera R version had a 5-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine delivering 701 kW of power and 1100 Nm of torque. Due to its carbon fibre manifold inlet and aluminium parts, the engine only weighs a remarkable 197 kg. A 7-speed dual clutch with paddle shifters makes up the transmission. In order to achieve faster shift times, the second clutch is made to slow down the input shaft. This in turn reduces the time taken for synchronizing the next gear. The Koenigsegg Agera’s 1MW mid-engine was upgraded to deliver 1014 kW power and 1371 Nm of torque. Interestingly, the Chiron’s power output is 1119 kW. In addition, a removable roll cage has made the Agera a ruthless track machine as well.

THE BODY

The Agera’s body is made of impregnated carbon fibre, as well as the chassis. The rear wing can be adjusted electronically.

KOENIGSEGG AGERA RS ESTABLISHES NEW WORLD SPEED RECORD

On 9 September, 2017, Niklas Lilja, the factory driver, took the Koenigsegg Agera RS from 0 - 400 km/h, and back to a dead stop in a staggering 36.44 seconds. This was 5.52 seconds faster than the previous record, which was held for only less than a month by Bugatti Chiron. The record-breaking event occurred at Vandel Airfield in Denmark, where a total distance of 2441 m was covered. The 0-400 km/h took 26.88 seconds over a distance of 1958 m, and the stopping time was 9.56 seconds covering 483 m.

Only time will tell which record stays or which one is replaced. Let’s see what Bugatti will do next.

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